Interview with William Arthur Smith

British gunner served with 51st Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 11/1939-1/1940; served with 223rd Bty, 56th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Div in GB, France and Belgium, 1/1940-5/1940; prisoner of war in Stalag XX-A, Thorn, Stalag XX-B, Graudenz and Arbeitskommando E711A, Heydebreck, Germany, 6/1940-2/1945

REEL 1 Background in Ridge Lane, GB, 1918-1939: family; education; employment; degree of knowledge of approaching war; reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 9/1939; call-up for military service, 11/1939; train journey to Catterick. Aspects of period as gunner with 51st Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 11/1939-1/1940: reception on arrival; memories of NCOs; kit inspections; confinement to barracks at Catterick Camp during German Measle outbreak; fellow recruits; pattern of training; incident of fire alarm; daily routine; leisure activities; opinion of rations; navigation training. Aspects of period as gunner with 56th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Div in GB, 1/1940-4/1940: accommodation and washing facilities; duties as dispatch rider; selection as 'stickman'; settling into military life; further details of duties; degree of knowledge of German Army; awareness of overseas posting; journey to Southampton, 4/1940. Aspects of operations as gunner with 223rd Bty 51st Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery, 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Div in France and Belgium, 1940: embarkation at Southampton, GB and voyage to Cherbourg, France, 4/1940; duties during journey to Lille area, France, 4/1940; accident and medical treatment received; later removal of stitches; details of camp; story of air raid during guard duty. REEL 2 Continues: memories of officers; story of delivery of gun including refugees on roads and activity of Fifth Column; contact with withdrawing British and French Army troops; situation in Hazebrouck, France; story of escape from German Army troops in orphanage; wounding of sergeant; surrender, 28/5/1940. Aspects of journey as prisoner of war from France to Germany, 1940: sight of German Army troops; reaction to situation; rations; question of contact with guards. Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Stalag XX-A Thorn, Stalag XX-B, Graudenz and Arbeitskommando E711A, Heydebreck, Germany, 6/1940-2/1945: period in Stalag XX-A, Thorn; working parties and haircuts; clothing and rations; sleeping arrangements at Stalag XX A, Thorn; nature of guardhouse; activities at Stalag XX-B, Graudenz; posting on work party to Graudenz; memories of guard; Christmas celebrations; incident of prisoner of war caught in local cinema. REEL 3 Continues: acquiring items from Graudenz; contact with Polish civilians; filling of paliasses for German Army guards; morale; opinion of prospect of escaping; story of shooting of prisoner of war and subsequent funeral at Arbeitskommando E711A, Heydebreck; photographs taken in camp; working party in Arbeitskommando E711A, Heydebreck; air raids; discovery of items from aircraft wrecks; location of camp; story air raid on Bank Holiday, 1944; degree of awareness of war; filling bomb crater; character of area, including presence of labour camp; sports; health of prisoners of war; rations; contact with Jewish forced labourers. Aspects of prisoner of war trek in Germany and Austria, 2/1945-4/1945: start of march west, 2/1945; rest period and split of prisoners of war; discovery of leek store; use of cigarettes; work undertaken in Bayreuth, Germany; Allied air raid; splitting up of column during march; treatment of Jewish prisoners; air activity. REEL 4 Continues: memories of Czech guard serving with German Army; signal from Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire aircraft at Winklarn, Austria; taking cover from approaching battle; surrender of German Army cavalry unit; arrival of United States Army; acquiring German watch; duties guarding German prisoners of war; accommodation; rations; capture of German Army officer; relations with civilians; capture of former guard; journey to Munich Airport via Nüremberg; scenes at Munich Airport; flight to London. Aspects of period as gunner with Royal Artillery in GB, 1945-1946: period at Lyneham Camp; description of journey home; reception on arrival; activities in prisoner of war camps; period in Clacton-on-Sea, including duties in office; story of visit to officers' mess at Larkhill Camp. REEL 5 Continues: story of problems on journey home; demobilisation at Taunton, 2/1946; later contact with fellow former prisoners of war; return to civilian employment; opinion of treatment received from British Army; story of journey home from leave.